Dec. 7, 2004
Glenn Mahone/Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-1898/4769)
James Hartsfield
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone: 281/483-5111)
RELEASE: 04-388
NASA SPACE PIONEER JOHN YOUNG, ASTRONAUT WITHOUT EQUAL, RETIRES
Space pioneer John W. Young, a man who flew twice to the moon, walked
on its surface and commanded the first Space Shuttle mission, is
retiring.
Young's achievements during his 42-year career at NASA are unmatched.
He was the first human to fly in space six times and launch seven
times, six times from Earth and once from the moon. He is the only
astronaut to pilot four different types of spacecraft, flying in the
Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. Young is the longest
serving astronaut in history. His retirement from NASA is effective
Dec. 31.
"John's tenacity and dedication are matched only by his humility,"
said NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. "He's never sought fame and
often goes out of his way to avoid the limelight. However, when you
need a job done and you want it done right, John's the person to go
to. He's a true American treasure, and his exemplary legacy will
inspire generations of new explorers for years to come."
Young, a native of Orlando, Fla., retired U.S. Navy Captain and test
pilot, joined NASA in 1962. His first mission was as pilot of the
maiden manned flight of the Gemini Program, Gemini 3 in 1965. With
Young and Commander Virgil Grissom on board, Gemini 3 was the first
American space flight with more than one person.
He next flew in 1966, commanding Gemini 10. Along with Mike Collins,
he performed the first dual rendezvous maneuvers during a single
mission.
In 1969, two months before man's first landing on the moon, Young
orbited Earth's satellite. Young orbited the moon in the Apollo
Command Module, while his fellow crewmembers, Thomas Stafford and
Eugene Cernan, descended to within 50,000 feet of its surface in the
Lunar Module. Apollo 10 was a full rehearsal for the first lunar
landing.
Young returned to the moon in 1972 as commander of Apollo 16. He
piloted the Lunar Module to a landing on the surface, along with
Charlie Duke. Young and Duke drove more than 16 miles across the
lunar surface in the Lunar Rover Vehicle, collecting more than 200
pounds of samples. It was the most extensive lunar exploration
mission to date.
"You run out of superlatives when you talk about Captain John Young as
a test pilot, astronaut and engineer," said former Space Shuttle
astronaut and Associate Administrator for Space Operations William
Readdy. "John has an incredible engineering mind, and he sets the
gold standard when it comes to asking the really tough questions.
When he talks, everybody listens. It's impossible to overstate the
positive impact John has had on human space flight operations and
safety. Beyond that, he has set a standard for excellence for all
those who have served with him and those who will follow. He's truly
an inspiration," Readdy said.
Young was at the helm of Columbia for the first Space Shuttle mission,
STS-1 in 1981, with Robert Crippen as pilot. It was the world's first
flight of a reusable, winged spacecraft; the first landing of a
spacecraft on a runway; and the largest, heaviest craft to launch and
land to date. It was the first time a manned spacecraft was launched
without previous unmanned test flights. Young guided the 96-ton
Columbia to a perfect touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.,
after a two-day mission.
Young's sixth and final space mission was again in command of Columbia
on the ninth Shuttle flight, STS-9 in 1983. It was the first launch
of the Spacelab laboratory in the Shuttle's cargo bay. It was the
longest Shuttle flight to date, with the first international crew
working around the clock for 10 days to conduct more than 70
experiments.
When he was not in flight, Young's extensive contributions continued
on the ground. He served as chief of NASA's Astronaut Office for 13
years. He also served eight years as an assistant and associate
director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, providing advice and counsel
on technical, operational and safety matters.
"John Young has no equal in his service to our country and to
humanity's quest for space," said the Director of NASA's Johnson
Space Center, Jefferson D. Howell Jr. "He is the astronaut's
astronaut, a hero among heroes who fly in space. His achievements
have taken space from an unknown environment to the expanding
frontier we explore today. His steady hand and unflinching eyes have
served our cause of space exploration well, expanding our horizons
with unshakable dedication and calm courage. He will be missed,"
Howell said.
For complete biographical and other information about John Young,
visit:
httphttp://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/young.html
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